David H. Bieter

David H. Bieter
Bieter in 2009
Mayor of Boise, Idaho
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2004
Preceded by	Carolyn Terteling-Payne
Member of the Idaho House of Representatives from the 19th district
In office 1999–2003
Preceded by	Pat Bieter
Succeeded by	Anne Pasley-Stuart
Personal details
Born	November 1, 1959 Boise, Idaho
Political party	Democratic (elected mayor in nonpartisan elections)
Spouse(s)	Julia Bieter
Alma mater	University of St. Thomas, B.A. University of Idaho, J.D.
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic

David Harold "Dave" Bieter^[1] (born November 1, 1959) has served as mayor of Boise, Idaho since 2004. He is a Democrat though the office of mayor is officially nonpartisan.

Biography

Bieter was born in Boise and graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in 1978. Bieter earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and a law degree from the University of Idaho. He was admitted to the Idaho State Bar in 1986.^[1] In addition to his native English, Bieter is fluent in Spanish and Basque.^[2]

Political career

In 1999 Bieter was appointed to the Idaho House of Representatives as a Democrat to succeed his late father, Pat Bieter, in District 19 (north Boise). Bieter was elected to a full term in 2000 and reelected in 2002.

In 2003 Bieter was elected Boise mayor in a nonpartisan contest, defeating Republican Party activist Chuck Winder and Ada County Sheriff Vaughn Killeen. He was reelected in 2007 with 64 percent of the vote, defeating city councilman Jim Tibbs.^[3]

Bieter was an early supporter of Barack Obama in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.^[4] It had been speculated Bieter might emerge as a Democratic candidate for Governor of Idaho in 2010,^[5] however he declined to file as a candidate. Rumors of a possible 2014 Bieter candidacy for governor or another higher office circulated as well.^[6]

Bieter easily won a third four-year term as mayor in November 2011, defeating David B. Hall with 74 percent of the vote.^[7] He was the first Boise mayor to win a third four-year term since Richard Eardley in 1981.

Bieter was a candidate for a fourth term in 2015,^[8] defeating Judy Peavey-Derr and Seth Holden with 69 percent of the vote.^[9] Bieter is the first Boise mayor to win four four-year terms and the first Boise mayor to win a fourth term of any sort since R. E. Edlefsen in 1957.

Personal

According to the New York Times, "Bieter spent part of his youth in the Basque Country and is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the only Basque-speaking mayor in the United States." Boise is home to the largest Basque population outside of Europe, with 15,000 Basques.^[10]

Bieter married his wife Julia in 1998. The couple has one daughter.^[2]

External links

• Biography at City of Boise web site
• Campaign Web Site

References

1. David Harold Bieter Lawyer Profile - martindale.com, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
2. About the Mayor - City of Boise Retrieved September 20, 2013.
3. Bieter beats Tibbs in Boise mayor race Retrieved October 29, 2008.
4. "Boise Mayor Dave Bieter Endorsement". Archived from the original on January 28, 2008.
5. Adam Graham, How will you hang? (June 28, 2008).
6. Popkey, Dan. "Democrat Bieter wanted to hear GOP Speaker Boehner, backed Simpson in 2010" Idaho Statesman, (August 29, 2013). Retrieved September 20, 2013.
7. Election Results Retrieved December 10, 2011.
8. Sewell, Cynthia. "The race is on for city elections", Idaho Statesman, (September 4, 2015). Retrieved September 10, 2015.
9. "Boise mayor, City Council incumbents win their races". KTVB. November 4, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
10. John O'Connor (August 24, 2012). "Herding Sheep in Basque Country (Idaho)". The New York Times. Retrieved August 24, 2012.